Effect of Tai Chi alone or as additional therapy on low back pain: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

This is the first systematic review evaluating and statistically synthesis the current studies regarding the effects of Tai Chi on pain and disability in patients with low back pain (LBP). The aggregated results of the meta-analysis suggested that Tai Chi significantly decreased pain and improve function disability, Oswestry disability index (ODI) subitems: pain intensity; personal care; lifting; walking; standing; sleeping; social life and traveling, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) physical functioning, and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). We drew a cautious conclusion that Tai Chi alone or as additional therapy with routine physical therapy may decrease pain and improve function disability for patients with low back pain (LBP). Further trials are needed to be conducted with our suggestions mentioned in the systematic review.